Capítulo 53: 53: SOME TIME AGO
The cohort of Changing Star was strange. At least, that's what Sara thought after spending a few days with them following her rescue.
There was a subtle division among some members of the group, like an invisible wall separating them. Although they worked well together and appeared somewhat unified, Sara couldn't help but notice small tensions.
The small, pale boy with onyx-black eyes was perhaps the most peculiar. He spent most of his time with the archer, a cheerful man who never stopped joking and telling stories. The burly huntress, Effie, occasionally joined them, though less frequently.
On the other hand, Changing Star, the Legacy Han Li, and the blind seer formed what Sara interpreted as the group's core. They interacted frequently, even if those interactions often consisted of clashing swords rather than words.
The skill of Changing Star—Nephis—with a sword was impressive. Sara couldn't help but focus on the way she wielded it: fluid and lethal, like a crystal-clear stream, yet unstoppable.
The boy named Caster also possessed formidable technique, comparable to Nephis's, though much cruder. His style relied on strength and speed, whereas Nephis shone with adaptability and precision. It was as if Caster preferred to break through any obstacle with sheer force, while Nephis sought to dismantle it with intelligence and skill.
In just two days with them, Sara had dedicated herself to learning as much as possible. She had concluded that, at the very least, they had no intention of killing or betraying her. After all, they could have let her die if that had been their goal.
Even so, she remained cautious.
Effie, the huntress, had a cheerful and playful personality. She gave the impression of being carefree, though her words and actions hinted at a confidence and skill that shouldn't be underestimated. She was also notably gluttonous, something Sara found curious given the circumstances.
Of them all, Effie was the one who approached Sara the most during those days. They talked extensively, and it was thanks to her that Sara came to understand her position, the place they were in, the group's origins, and their destination.
For now, that information was enough. Sara didn't fully trust them yet but was beginning to feel that perhaps her rescue hadn't been a mistake.
Or at least, that's what she thought until they told her what they had to do next. With night approaching and the waters beginning to flood the Crimson Labyrinth, everything seemed to spiral into chaos and unpredictability.
Should I run?
If she started running now, she might still have a chance. With luck, she could reach the statue before the water caught up and climb to the top. But that would mean abandoning them and being alone again.
She didn't want to be alone anymore. Not again.
That's why she decided to stay, even though the idea seemed completely senseless.
"Sunny?" Nephis's voice rang out, firm but calm. She kept her sword raised, radiating a white light that illuminated the surroundings with an almost sacred glow.
The small boy quickly replied, "Nothing yet."
The ensuing silence was broken only by the sound of the water. The black tide continued rising, cold and menacing, already reaching everyone's ankles. With every passing second, the level climbed centimeter by centimeter.
Then, Sara's keen senses picked up something—a disturbance.
"Something's coming," she warned, fixing her gaze on Nephis, who remained stoic.
An instant later, Sunny confirmed the warning, and the tension became palpable. But what emerged before them left them stunned.
From the massive crater, a colossal stone giant slowly rose. The black tide reached its waist as it ascended with heavy, resonating steps. Each movement made the ground beneath them tremble.
Nephis said something, though Sara couldn't catch it. Immediately, the archer took the blind seer and carried her with skill, leaping into the air with impressive precision. Nephis, meanwhile, ran toward the edge of the crater and made an agile jump, landing on the giant's shoulder.
Caster vanished for a second, only to reappear beside Nephis on the colossus's shoulder.
He's fast.
Sara observed the incredible speed at which Caster moved. It was, without a doubt, impressive. But she was sure that, if she wanted, she could be even faster than him.
Wasting no more time, she began running toward the giant to climb onto its shoulder. However, she noticed something: Sunny was struggling.
Should I help him?
The thought barely had time to take root before Effie took the initiative. The huntress grabbed Sunny with ease and tossed him through the air as if he weighed nothing, sending him straight to the giant's shoulder.
That works too.
Sara smirked slightly before vanishing in a blink and reappearing beside the rest of the group on the colossus's shoulder.
The giant moved abruptly, shaking everyone like leaves in the wind. Their footing slipped, and each of them struggled to stay balanced.
...
Now, the seven Sleepers stood atop the decapitated head of the living statue, watching as it began to move toward the other side of the crater.
The water level kept rising, and within moments it would reach the statue's neck, submerging them all beneath the eerie black sea.
Sara summoned her sword, driving it precisely into a crack in the statue's neck. She sank it deep enough to resist the water's pressure and keep herself steady.
Kai, using Cassie's peculiar memory, had created a tether that linked him to her, ensuring that if anything went wrong, they wouldn't lose each other. Nephis, Caster, and Sunny followed Sara's example, holding on with their own swords.
It didn't take long for the water to engulf them completely, forcing them to fight against the powerful currents of the black sea. Although the giant's advance seemed slow, it was merely an illusion caused by its immense size. Each step covered dozens of meters with terrifying speed, generating overwhelming pressure that threatened to tear them from their precarious refuge.
Underwater, Sara began to feel the peculiar tingling that signaled the activation of her Aspect. The sensation concentrated near her neck, close to her lungs, and quickly spread through her body.
As she clung tightly to her sword, she felt her body begin to change. She suspected her Aspect activated near her neck because it was the only exposed part of her plate armor closest to her lungs.
While undergoing this swift adaptation, her eyes tingled slightly before she could see through the water more clearly.
With her sharpened vision, she observed the others.
Nephis, with her eyes closed and her face showing an unusual expression of effort, clung firmly to her sword, enduring with tenacity.
Caster, though appearing calm, betrayed his discomfort in the small movements of his closed eyelids, clearly struggling to maintain composure.
Sunny, on the other hand, was fighting desperately, gripping his sword with the strength of someone who had no other choice.
Kai and Cassie seemed to be in the worst condition. Without weapons to hold onto, they used their bare hands to cling to small cracks in the statue's stone. Kai, in particular, showed signs of weakening quickly.
Suddenly, Sara felt her lungs fill completely with oxygen. Her soul core was nearly empty, and that strange sensation coursing through her body confirmed what she feared: her Aspect had consumed nearly all her soul essence.
Her Aspect, though powerful, came at a cost. It could force adaptations in her body to survive almost any environment. She had used this gift to withstand the cold in the Forgotten Coast, to enhance her vision in darkness, and to push her physical strength to superhuman levels at the academy. However, all of this required an exact amount of soul essence, limiting its continuous use.
What truly terrified her now was that this simple adaptation to the black sea water had consumed nearly all her essence. She had never experienced such a high price for a transformation.
Alarmed, she clung tighter to her sword, feeling fear growing within her. She couldn't afford to let go, not now that she was beginning to suspect these waters were neither simple nor ordinary.
______
Note: Well, I think I went a little overboard with the explanations and stuff, sorry!
Uh, I guess some of you wanted to see more of Sara, so I started writing this chapter to show more of her and explain a bit about her Aspect, though I'm not sure if I handled the explanation well 😫
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
SEE YOU NEXT TIME 👋
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